Definition

Proper noun: - Alfred Russel Wallace: A British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, and biologist. He is best known for independently conceiving the theory of evolution through natural selection. His work prompted Charles Darwin to publish his own ideas on the subject.

Usage

• As a subject: conducted extensive fieldwork in the Amazon basin and the Malay Archipelago.
• In possessive form: collections of specimens were vast.
• For identification: The theory was co-discovered by .

Examples

• is often called the "father of biogeography."
• The line dividing the fauna of Asia and Australasia is named the Line.
• Historical accounts show that sent an essay to Darwin in 1858 outlining his theory.

Advanced Usage

• "Wallacean": Pertaining to the ideas or work of Alfred Russel Wallace.
  • Wallacean biogeography focuses on the distribution of species.
• In academic contrast: Often mentioned in tandem with Darwin to highlight independent discovery.
  • The 1858 presentation to the Linnean Society featured papers by both Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

Variants and Related Words

• Wallace Line (proper noun): A faunal boundary line in the Malay Archipelago, identified by Wallace.
• Wallace's giant bee (noun): A species of bee (Megachile pluto) rediscovered in Indonesia, named in his honor.

Synonyms

• Naturalist
• Explorer
• Co-discoverer of natural selection (contextual phrase)

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "In the shadow of Darwin": A phrase sometimes used in historical analysis to describe Wallace's legacy relative to Darwin's more famous name.
  • Despite his crucial contributions, Alfred Russel Wallace often worked in the shadow of Darwin.

Noun

1. English naturalist who formulated a concept of evolution that resembled Charles Darwin's (1823-1913)